In this series, we aim to document oft-underappreciated Japanese subcultures, shedding light on relevant elements of Japanese society that have yet to receive deserved attention. Ranging from countrywide crazes to online-only collectives, Japanese society’s unique blend of borrowed cultures is a breeding ground for distinctive trends, some with longer shelf lives than others. Although articles have been dedicated to topics ranging from Shibuya-Kei music to certain niche Japanese subcultures have yet to receive proper attention. Those who are not able to understand the acronyms of clothing are considered to be “noobs” or new people in the community.Considering the size of the country, it’s impressive how much Japan has influenced the rest of the world Japan’s technology, video games, cars, anime, food and music has permeated the collective consciousness of the planet. It’s common to hear a sentence like “OMG, my SS finally got me in the GO to reserve the DDC jsk from AP, the matching OTKs, and that new Btssb OP” which would translate to “Oh my god, my shopping service finally got me in the group order to reserve the Day Dream Carnival (a Lolita print) jumperskirt from Angelic Pretty, the matching Over the Knee (socks), and that new Baby The Stars Shine Bright One Piece.” Almost any Lolita that has participated in the fashion and has community involvement would be able to understand what was said. The names of many of the clothing items have been made into acronyms and are referred to in the same way across all communities. Proportional headbows and bow like barrettes are currently in fashion.įigure 14- A full sweet Lolita coordinate (~$700) (credit: Poppy Noir) If it is too big, it detracts from the outfit and is called “a headeating bow” which is not currently popular. The size of the headbow in a coordinate must also be just right. The balance and choice of accessories also demonstrates how well a Lolita can coordinate. The presence or absence of bloomers is often associated with the amount of modesty that a Lolita has. The presence or lack of a blouse or a petticoat can indicate how much of the “rules” a participant follows and how new they are to the fashion. Dresses can often go from $100-$500, and the ability to afford dresses of that price can be a mark of high status. For example, the print or style of a dress, its authenticity, its demand in the community and rarity, can demonstrate what lengths a Lolita is willing to go to obtain the dress and an insight into their socioeconomic status. This knowledge is specifically geared towards other Lolitas. Why does one person choose to wear bloomers, but another does not? Each piece of clothing is influenced not only by personal choice, but also by regional tastes, and current trends in the international community as well.Įach piece of clothing that makes up a Lolita coordinate can tell a significant amount of information about the person wearing it. When analyzing how Lolitas put together a coordinate, it is important to also take into account why each piece is selected. To avoid being called Ita, participants told me to not mix cosplay and Lolita together, to not wear cat ears, and to always wear a petticoat and bloomers.įigure 13- The Do’s and Don'ts of Lolita (credit: ) Ita is a derogatory term that every Lolita dreads being called. Poor coordination skills can result in outfits being called ita, which is a shortened version of the Japanese word itai which means “ouch” in Japanese. “Daily Lolita Coordinates” on LiveJournal and “Closet of Frills: Daily Lolita Coords” on Facebook are two popular places for Lolitas to show off their coordinating skills and to receive constructive criticism about their outfits. Numerous groups have been started to help Lolitas make better coordinates by giving constructive criticism, and also by setting examples of exemplary coordinates. Much like a person’s own fashion sense, not all Lolitas have a good sense of coordination. The ability to put together a good coordinate is a highly sought after skill in the Lolita community. A Lolita outfit, which is known as a coordinate, is the full balance and presentation of clothing and accessories that fit the Lolita aesthetic.
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